KEY POINTS:
There was a double celebration for Te Karere yesterday as it marked 25 years of broadcasting with a new, extended half-hour bulletin.
From 2 minutes at its inception to the new TV One format at 4pm, the show has seen plenty of changes in scheduling with criticism from politicians and viewers that the shuffling was damaging Maoridom's longest-running programme.
TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis defended the moves which he said had been successful in growing viewership to the current 1.5 million cumulative audience Te Karere receives over a month.
The lengthening of Te Karere from 15 minutes was a clear commitment to it, Mr Ellis said.
"It represents an investment by TVNZ and Te Mangai Paho, effectively a partnership between us, to extend the presence of Maori news and daily current affairs on New Zealand television. We're excited about that," he said.
Before the launch about 100 guests, including King Tuheitia and Maori Affairs minister Dr Pita Sharples, were treated to highlights of the show.
Cue giggles of past presenters such as Derek Fox and Tini Molyneux, with big hair and louder shirts. Past editor Moari Stafford thanked reporters who were pioneers in the news service.
Early Te Karere reporter Wena Harawira half cringed and laughed remembering when there was no budget for reporter wardrobes.
"We had no stylist and no idea about fashion. I went down to Farmers and bought myself a white shirt and what I thought was a good jacket. It was bright, bright green, shoulder pads the whole shebang. It was very 80s," she said.
Original Te Karere broadcaster Derek Fox recalled the initial resistance to the programme both from within TVNZ and a group of children from Tokomaru Bay who wrote and complained that the show was cutting off the end of Dr Who.
